Phillies Sweep Mets

Originally posted at Phillies Nation.

After being swept by the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies needed to make it up to their frustrated fans. So, they swept their rivals, the New York Mets, at home. It is their only series win at home against a team not named the Washington Nationals.

Johan Santana never lost to the Phillies, coming into today4-0 against the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins greeted him with a lead-off home run. Rollins finished the day 2-for-3. He has seven hits in last four games.

A stellar performance by Joe Blanton gave the Phillies an opportunity to win. He pitched 7.1 shutout innings. He allowed four hits, walked three, and struck out five. The Phillies were also able to escape jams as the Mets hit into three key double plays.

Chase Utley homered off Santana in the sixth inning to give the Phillies a little bit of insurance. Blanton nor the bullpen needed it, shutting out the Mets.

Brad Lidge converted his sixteenth save, striking out the side in order. Santana pitched well, but was tacked with his first loss against the Phillies. Worse for Santana, his team was swept, falling four games behind the Phillies.

Phils Seek Mets Sweep

For full gameday, visit Phillies Nation.

New York Mets (39-41) will face the Philadelphia Phillies (41-37).

Johan Santana (9-6, 3.34) will start against Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.08).

The Phillies go for a sweep against the Mets this afternoon. In the final game of the series, Johan Santana faces Joe Blanton.

Santana has been struggling-- for Johan Santana. He has lost three of his last four games, including his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers where he allowed five earned runs. In his career against the Phillies, Santana is 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA. In his last start against the Phillies, he gave up five runs on four home runs.

Blanton is 1-0 in his career against the Mets. In 21 innings, he allowed only five earned runs and Mets batters are hitting .213 against him. Joe Blanton is even batting 1.000 against Santana (1-for1).

Jimmy Rollins is 3-for6 against Santana this season. Ryan Howard is batting .350 with 3 home runs against Santana in his career.

Chan Ho Earns Another Go

If Chan Ho Park was indeed pitching for his spot in the rotation on Wednesday night, he earned another start.

Park pitched six shut out innings and didn't allow the Met's lone hit until the fifth inning. He walked two and struck out five, having the best outing of any Phillies starter this season, by far.

The only problem, Johan Santana was better. In seven innings, Santana allowed two hits and three walks while striking out 10.

The Phillies had a couple of opportunities, but could not get any run support for Park. However, the Mets were having just as much trouble for Santana. They scored the only run of the game on a throwing error by Pedro Feliz and a double clutch by Jayson Werth in the seventh inning.

That is all the Mets needed as Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez finished out the 1-0 game.

Despite the loss, the Phillies remain in first place, and Shane Victorino extended his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games.

Jamie Moyer will go for career win number 250 against Mike Pelfrey tonight at Citi Field.

Call of the day: In May of 2006, Xavier Nady of the Mets hit a deep fly ball with two outs and the bases loaded off Gavin Floyd. But Aaron Rowand was there to save the day.

"Driven to deep center field. Rowand back, are you kiddin' me? What a
great, great perhaps GAME SAVING catch, by Aaron Rowand!"

Shake My Hand

It appears Johan Santana has a unique and different handshake for every single Met player. I wish I was Johan.. just so I give David Wright a hug!

Speaking of the Mets, they beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 yesterday behind Santana who pitched 5.2 innings allowing just one run. The new-look Mets bullpen pitched the rest of the game with no trouble.